Apparatus fob separating unbubned coke fbom the products of



Oct. 13, C l. BOYER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING UNBURNED COKE FROM THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION Filed April 14. 2

0/0/72 M/rej F/GZ.

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I. BOYER, OF RIDGWAY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEPARATUS ,FOR SEPARATING UNBURNED cons FROM THE rnonuc'rs or comscsrrou- Application filed April 14, 1922. 1 Serial No. 552,638-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES I. Borne;

My invention relates to they separation of the unburned coke from the cinders or clinker by immersing them in water after the fine ashes are removed by a revolving screen removing all the coke of low specific gravity at once by means of currents of water applied at the point where the coke and cinders enter the tank; the coke of high specific gravity being separated from-the cinders by means of currents of water forced upward through a grating over which the heavier coke and cinders are spread, said currents lifting up the coke which is of lower specific gravity than the cinders, above the Cinders and bringing the coke underthe influence of another current which completes the separation by carrying the coke across a separating partition or darn, while the heavier Cinders or clinkers pass underneath. this separating partition or dam into a lower chamber in the tank.

The process depends on the difference in the specific gravity of the coke and cinders. The specific gravity of the coke is Very low and it, therefore, floats on the surface of the water or sinks very slowly, depending on the degree of density produced in the process of combustion, and is therefore readily influenced by water currents.

The clinker resulting from the fusing of the impurities in the coal during the process of combustion has a very high specific gravity, sinks quickly on reaching the water and is, therefore not easily influenced by water currents. r

The primarypurpose of this invention is to provide an efficient and economical method of reclaiming the vast quantities of coke resulting from the imperfect combustion of coal in the various industrial establishments, and which are now being wasted with the ashes and cinders.

1n the drawings submitted herewith and forming a part of this specification. Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section through the center ofthe tank and also shows a skeleton view from this section through the side of the tank. F ig. 2, shows atop plan view of the tank used and shows the circulation of the water horizontally through the tank and the troughs on both sides of the tank.

All parts in both Fig. 1, and Fig. 2, are numbered consecutively and like numerals indicate the same parts in both figures.

The apparatus consists of a tank (#1), a

plunger (#2), a cam shaft (#3), a flap valve on each side of tank just below the plunger (#4), a paddle conveyor (#11), a cast iron grate (#16), refuse control gates (#17 and 18), a dam (#19), a coke conveyor (#26), a refuse or clinker conveyor (#27), a revolving screen (#21), a hopper (#22), openings in sides of tank (#6 and 7), and similar openings on the opposite side 39 and 40, Fig. 2), troughs on both sides of tank (#33 and 34), and a water pipe #23. A vertical partition 8 extends transversely of the tank adjacent to one end of the latter and terminates above the level of the bottom of the tank, thus producing at one end of the tank a pump chamber open at its lower end. In this chamber, the plunger-2' operated by the cam shaft 3 reciprocates vertically.

The size of the tank may be varied depending on the quantity of material to be separated and the room available for its installation. This tank is filled with water to a depth of seven feet.

The revolving screen #21 extends about 8 ft. over the sides of the tankand ends directly over the middle of the longitudinal section of the tank, the screenbeing about one foot lower over the tank than at the end projecting beyond the tank.

It is understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The ashes and cinders are delivered into the revolving screen about 8 ft. from the sides of the tank and practically all the fine ashes are screened out of the coke and cinders into a hopper along side of the tank (not shown in the drawings) and conveyed to the refuse pile, before the coke and cinders are delivered into hopper #22 from the lower end of revolving screen #21.

From hopper #22 the coke and cinders are dropped directly in front of water pipe #23 which supplies the water to the tank. This pipe extends the full width across the tank near the top of the water level and perpendicular to the sides of the tank. It is fitted with one-half inch nozzles spaced one and onehalf inches between centers pointing in the direction of the arrow at #24- The water is supplied under pressure and the discharge of the water from these nozzles creates a current along the surface of the water in the direction of the arrow at #24. The lighter coke will be projected forward in the direction of the arrow at #24 under the influence of the current from the water pipe at #23 and the current at #32 induced by the paddle conveyor #11 revolving in the direction of the arrow at #25. All the coke that floats will be carried directly to coke elevator #26 by paddle conveyor #11 while the heavier coke will tend to sink down to the clinker bed #20.

All the clinker and the heavier coke which has not been influenced by the currents at #2etwill sink at once and will be deflected toward the cast iron grate #16 under feed regulator gate #15. This gate may be adjusted to met the varying conditions of the material. 1

The gate is used to compel an equal distribution of the material over the grate #16. The grate #16 extends across the full width of the tank and its entire surface is perforated so as to permit the free passage of water through it. When the plunger #2 makes its downward stroke it forces the water through the perforations in the grate #16 and lifts the water in the tank in the direction of the arrow at #30. This force carries with it all the coke which is of relatively low specific gravity and also slightly moves the clinker upward, but as soon as the force of .the plunger is spent, the clinker, being of much higher specific gravity, immediately sinks back on the grate while the coke, having a much lower specific gravity sinks back slowly until it rests on top. oft-he clinker. This operation is repeated until the coke is lifted high enough to come under the influence of current #32 vwhich carries it across dam #19. The

clinker being confined by dam #19 and the clinker or refuse control gates #17 and 18 forms a clinker or refuse bed #20 under the action of the repeated strokes of plunger #2 and the heavier coke rests on the top of this bed. At each stroke of the plunger some ofthis coke is lifted high enough until it is brought under the. influence of current #32 which projects it forward across dam #19.

The height of the refuse or clinker bed is control-led by gates #17 and 18. The gates are adjusted when the refuse bed #20 has been established so that the amount of clinker permitted to pass gate #18 equals the amount of clinker fed into the apparatus and thus maintain the refuse or clinker bed at a fairly constant height.

The clinker which under the action of the force exertedby plunger #2 and gravity passes gate #18, drops down on elevator #27 which removes it from the tank. This elevator is equipped with. dewatering buckets and thus conserves the water used in the operation.

The coke builds upon the clinker or "efuse bed #20-un-til it is finally lifted high enough by the force of current #30/ created by plunger #2 so that it. is br ught under the influence of current #32 hich projects it forward across dam #19 ttnvard coke elevator #26 which removes the coke from the tank by dewatering bucket The paddle conveyor #11 which revolves in the direction of the arrow at #25, extends across the full width of the tank and is driven from the end at #11. The end at #25 may be raised or lowered in the tank so as to regulate the current for the removal of the coke across dam #19 to elevator #26.

The partition #28 extends all the way from dam #19 around the bottom of elevator #26 to the top of the tank at #28 and completely separates this part portion of the tank from elevator #27 which removes the clinker from the tank.

on the outside of the tank on both sides of the tank troughs #33 and 34 extend from the openings in the sides of the tank at #7 and #40 respectively back to the end of the tank at plunger #2. The bottom of these troughs slopes down to the bottom'of the plunger as shown by line #10 in Fig. 1, and the top of the trough is even with the top of the tank.

An opening 4 is provided in each side of the tank for the purpose of admitting water from troughs #33 and 34 into the tank at both sides under lunger #2. Each opening 4* is fitted with a flap valve 4 0n the inside hinged at the top and opening toward the inside of'the tank. there being one of these valves on each side of the tank just below the plane of the plunger #2 when the latter is at the end of its downward stroke.

In operation the current #32 created by the paddle conveyor #11 raises the water level against partition #28 and as the water israised it flows out through the opening inlthe side of the tank at #7 into trough #33 as indicated by the arrows at #35 in Fig. 2.

The water flows back through trough #33 toward opening #6. and re-enters the tank at opening #6 as indicated by the arrows at #36 Fig. 2. On the opposite side of the tank a. similar circulation takes place through trough #34 through openings #39 and 4:0 as shown by the arrows at #37 and 38. Openings #7 and 40 are screened with wire screen to prevent coke from floating out into troughs #33 and 34.- Part of the water circulating through troughs #33 and 34 finds its way under plunger #2 through the valves at #4 on both sides of the tank.

As the plunger #2 begins its up-ward stroke the suction created by the plunger raises the flap valve #4 and admits the water under the plunger from the troughs #33 and 34 and thus prevents any suction action. on the main body of water in the tank which would tend to destroy the efi'ect of the current at #30 created by the downward thrustot plunger #2.

An overflow pipe may be placed in the sides of the tank at the top of the water level to maintain the Water level.

The water pressure to supply pipe #23 may be obtained from a city'main or may be supplied by a centrifugal pump from a nearby stream.

All the machinery used in the operation is to be driven by belt or chain drive from a line shaft above the tank and the power may be supplied from any convenient source.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In an apparatus for separating sub-- stances of different specific gravities, a tank adapted to hold a liquid and having a pump chamberfiat one end, said pump chamber being open at its lower end and terminating above the level of the bottom of the tank, a vertically reciprocating plunger working in the pump chamber, said pump chamber having an opening in a side wall thereof below the level of the plunger when at the end of its downward stroke, said tank alsohaving a lateral opening adjacent to its end remote from the pump chamber, said second named .opening being located at a higher level than the first named opening, a condu'it leading from the second named opening to the first named opening, an inwardly opening flap valve controlling said first named opening,

said tank between the lower end of Said pump chamber and said second named opening. means for discharging a mixture comprising substances of different specific gravities into the tank above the grating, and means for discharging liquid under pressure into the tank at the first named end of the latter in such manner as to cause a horizontal movement of the liquid in the tank above the grating toward the second named end of the tank.

2. In an apparatus for separating substances of different specific gravities, a tank adapted to hold a liquid and having a pump chamber at one end, said pump chamber being open at its lower end and terminating above the level of the bottom of the tank, a

vertically reciprocating plunger working in a grating disposed within the pump chamber, a conduit leading from the end of the tank remote from the "pump chamber to the pump chamber, a screen covering the conduit at the end of the latter remote from the pump chamber, and means in the upper part of the tank producing horizontal currents of liquid flowing away from the pump chamber.

3. In an apparatus for separating substances of different specific gravities, an inclined. grating disposed within the tank above 'theleve'l of the bottom of the latter, means extending within the tank above the highest end of the grating for discharging liquid into the tank, moving mechanical means in said tank for causing movement of the liquid therein above the grating in the horizontal direction of length of the grating, means for feeding a mixture of substances of different specific gravities into the tank above' the highest end of the grating, said moving mechanical means extending into the liquid within the tank and terminating above the level of an outlet for the lighter substances of said mixture, and means for causing movement of liquid within the tank upwardly through said grating "into the horizontally moving current of liquid above the grating.

4. In an apparatus for separating substances of di-fierent specific gravities, an inclined grating disposed within the tank above the level of the bottom of the latter, means extending within the tank above the highest end of the grating for dischargingliquid under pressure into the tank, moving mechanical means in said tank for causing movement of liquid above the grating in the horizontaY direction of length of the grating, means for feeding-a mixture of substances of diiierent specific gravities into the tank above thevhighest end of the grating. means for causing movement of liquid within the tank upwardly through said grating into the horizontally moving current of liquid above the grating, and means arranged above the level of the lower end of the grating for collecting the lighter substances from the horizontally moving currents of liquid and for conveying such lighter substances from the tank, said moving mechanical means extending into the liquid within. the tank and terminating above the level of the outlet for said lighter substances. 5. In an apparatus for separating substances of ditferentspecific gravities, an inclined grating disposed within the tank above the level of the bottom of the latter, means extending within the tank above-the highest end of the grating for discharging liquid under pressure into the tank, moving mechanical means in the tank for causing strong currents of liquid to flow above the grating in the horizontal direction of length of the grating, means for feeding a mixture grating, means for causing movement of liquid within the tank upwardly through said grating into the horizontally moving cur rent of liquidv above the grating, and means arranged above the level of the lower end of the grating for collecting the lighter substances from the'horizontally moving currents of liquid and for conveyingsuch lighter substances from the tank, said mov-j ing mechanical means extending into' the liquid within the tank and terminating above the level of the outlet for said lighter substances, and means extending below the level of the lower end of the grating for conveying the heavier substances from the tank.

6. In an apparatus for separting substances of different specific gravities, an inclined grating disposed within the tank above the level of the bottom of the latter, means extending within the tank above the highest end of the grating for discharging liquid under pressure into the tank, moving mechanical means in the tank for causing strong currents of liquid to flow above the grating in the horizontal direction of length of the grating, means for feeding a mixture of substances of different specific grayities into the tank above the highest end of the grating, means for causing movement of liquid within the tank upwardly through said grating into the horizontally moving current of liquid above the grating, means arranged above the level of the lower end of the grating for collecting the lighter substances from the horizontally moving cur rents of liquid and for conveying such lighter substances from the tank, said moving mechanical means extending into the liquid within the tank and terminating above the level of the outlet for said lighter substances, means extending below the level of the lower end of the grating for conveying the heavier substances from the tank, and a baflie and gate arrangement between said first and said second named conveying means.

7. in an apparatus for separating substances of different specific gravities, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means within" the tank for causing an intermittent upward flow of liquid in the tank, and a paddle conveyor acting in the liquid within the tank for positively causing horizontally moving streams within the tank near the surface of the liquid. said paddle-conveyor being vertically adjustable at one end and terminating above the level of an outlet for the lighter of said substances.

8. In an apparatus for separating substances of different specific gravities, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means at one end of the tank for forcing liquid into the tank intermittently adjacent to the bottom of the tank, said tank being provided with an out: let adjacent to its opposite end, said outlet being located above the level at which liquid is forced into the tank by said means,

moving mechanical means within the upper the tank for forcing liquid into the tank intermittently adjacent to the bottom of the tank, said tank being provided with an outlet adjacent to its opposite end, said outlet being located above the level at which liquid is forced into the tank by said means, moving mechanical means within the upper part of the tank for causing horizontal currents in the liquid within the tank to flow near the surface of the liquid toward said outlet, said moving mechanical means extending into the liquid within the tank and terminating above the level of the outlet for the lighter of said substances, means within the lower part of the tank for deflecting liquid upwardly into said horizontally moving currents, and a grate disposed within the tank below the level of the horizontally moving currents and in the path of the u wardly moving currents.

10. Inan apparatus for separating unburned coke from the products of combustion, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means within the tank for causing an intermittent upward flow of liquid in the tank, and moving mechanical means extending into the liquid within the tank and terminating above the level of the coke outlet and adapted to positively cause a horizontally moving stream within the tank near the surface of the liquid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES l. BUYER. 

